Clasp



Nov. 5, 1935. I E.'MOREHOUSE CLASP Filed June 16, 1953 W m m mm N Z ye w; "W3

Patented Nov. 5, 1935 j UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE B. A. Ballou & 00., In Island 0., a corporation of Rhode Application June 16, 1933, Serial No. 676,079

2 Claims.

This invention relates to a clasp of the type which may be used for theconnection of a chain to lorgnette eyeglasses or like articles; and has for one of its objects the provision of asimple 5 and inexpensive construction which willhold the parts which it is desired shall be firmlyattached together and yet detachable upon manual manipulation of the parts.

Another object .of the invention is the provilO sion of a construction which will be so arranged as to prevent its catching in different parts of a garment to the annoyance of the wearer or to tear or abrade the same.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a construction which will resist strains tending to separate the tongue from the catch by providing an interlocking relation of these parts to withstand such strains whether they be lateral or in a longitudinal direction.

Another object of the invention is the provision of. a construction which will be sufiiciently wide to permit of ornamentation being provided upon the outer surface thereof.

A still further object of the invention is the arrangement of the tongue so that-strains exerted in attaching the device will cause tighter engagement of the tongue and catch when in closed position.

With these and other objects in view, the in-.

ventions consists of certain novel features of construction, as will be more fully described, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of the clasp showing a fragmental portion of the chain connected thereto.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view showing the tongue as detached from the catch for the separation of these parts to engage an eye towhich the same is connected.

Fig. 3 is a sectional View showing in dotted lines the position to which the tongue may be sprung for threading the same into the parts-to be connected.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a modified construction showing a somewhat simplified form of arrangement of the device.

In the use of the old form swivel catch or of the one-piece clasp which had beveled, overlapping end portions, it frequently happened that the tongue would become laterally displaced from the over-lapping, beveled portion, which being sharp would tend to cut or abrade sheer material which it might engage; also longitudinal strains or tension on the parts tend to separate these unsupported over-lapping, beveled portions to effect a similar result, and in order that this may be improved I have provided an interlocking relation of the tongue and catch for the over-lapping ends which will support the 5 parts against longitudinal strains and also prevent lateral movement to separate these ends and in constructing such an'arrangement I have so formed the parts that they will not catch in any sheerfabric when drawn thereover, nor will 10 they abrade the same by reason of any sharp or projecting parts; and the following is a detailed description of the present embodiment of this invention illustrating the preferred means by which these advantageous results may be acl5 complished:

With reference to the drawing, I have illustrated a strip of flat wire as bent into the desired shape of clasp which I wish to form, the same consisting of a shank portion to folded over by a 20 complex curved bend H and providing a tongue l2, while the opposite end is rolled as at I3, to provide an eye I4 for attachment to a chain IS with a relatively short end portion 16 extending from the restricted portion of the eye at an 25 acute angle to the back or shank ID for overlapping the end of the tongue l2. These portions I0 and I6 flare away from each other as they recede from the eye.

This catch portion I6 is struck to deflect the 3 stock and provide a partially spherically protuberance ll on its outer surface which is cupped beneath as at I8, to receive a projecting finger l 9 formed by bending outwardly as at 20 theend portion of the tongue [2. The inner surface of. 35 the recess I 8 does not follow the curve of the rounding outer portion I! but is rather straight and slightly tapered to better support and resist any tendency to withdraw the tongue from the recess without inward pressure. The finger I9 40 which engages the recess may be of any desired shape but is preferably smaller than the end of the tongue so as to provide shoulder portions 2| which will engage the surrounding portions of the catch prior to the tongue bottoming in the recess 45 I8.

The catch portion i6 is made as short as practical so as to acquire the desired stiffness against further bending, while the tongue I2 is folded to provide a relatively longer and resilient por- 50 tion for greater ease in depressing the same and then swinging it laterally for threading into or attachment to a loop or ring and then by reversing the procedure replacing it within the catch.

Fig. 4 is a modified view showing the catch as 55 of the fabric but rather the rounded surface will permit these parts to ride over any sheet fabric without catching therein. Also by reason of the movement of the tongue outwardly, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3, this tongue will engage the catch with greater pressure and always maintain the parts in firm engagement.

The foregoing description is directed solely towards the construction illustrated, but I desire it to be understood that I reserve the privilege of resorting to all the mechanical changes to which the device is susceptible, the invention being defined and limited only by the terms of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A clasp comprising a single length of wire bent at one end to form an eye with the lengths of wire flaring therefrom at an acute angle to each other, one portion terminating a short distance therefrom and provided with an inwardly facing recess therein, the other portion being extended from said eye to form the back of the clasp and bent into a complex curve relatively large with respect to the eye, said wire extend- 5 ing from said curve to form the front of the clasp with the end thereof terminating in a finger to extend into said recess and detachably lock the ends against lateral and longitudinal movements, said complex curve being shaped to tend to move said finger outwardly and toward the curve.

2. A clasp comprising a single length of wire bent at one end to form an eye with the lengths of wire flaring therefrom at an acute angle, one portion terminating a short distance therefrom and provided with an inwardly facing recess therein, the other portion of wire being extended from said eye to form the back of the clasp and bent on a small arc and then bent on a relatively larger arc and then bent inwardly on a relatively small arc to form a complex curve, said wire extending from said curve to form the front of the clasp and with the end thereof terminating in a finger to extend into said recess and detachably lock the ends against lateral and longitudinal movements, said complex curve being shaped to tend to move said finger outwardly and toward the curve.

EUGENE MOREHOUSE. 

